Fuel controlling apparatus



Jan. 7, 1941. as; ussEL' j 2,228,037

FUEL -YCONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed MarchZ. "19:58

Patented Jan. 7, 1941 PATENT OFFICE FUEL CONTROLLING APPARATUS Philip S. Russel, Detroit, Micln, assignor to Detroit Lubricator Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application March 2, 1938, Serial No. 193,407

13 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in oil burner fuel feeding devices and more particularly to fuel feed controlling means.

An object of my invention is to provide a means of closing-off the fuel supply upon an excess of unconsumed fuel at the burner.

Another object is to prevent waste of fuel in the event that the flame is extinguished for any reason.

Another object is to provide means of rendering the supply means ineffective when the burner flame has been extinguished for any reason, thereby eliminating the hazards caused by the excess fuel.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts, to be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty oi which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, to be taken as a part of this specification, I have fully and clearly illustrated two embodiments of myinvention, in

which drawing Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of my invention as applied to a heating apparatus having a liquid level controlling device and a fuel burner supplied thereby;

Fig. 2 is a side view in longitudinalvertical section of the liquid level controlling device embodying my invention, and

Fig. 3 is a detail view in side elevation showing a modification of certain safety valve actuating means included in my invention.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, I designates generally a constant level liquid supply means having a cover or plate member 2 secured by screws 2 to a chambered body member 3 having therein a constant level chamber 3. The member 3 has an inlet connection 4 to a strainer casing member 5 which discharges into chamber 3 through a valve means, to be hereinafter described. The liquid is normally maintained in the chamber 3 at a constant level, as

for example at the level LL. The body member 3 has an outlet I from which leads a liquid fuel conduit member 8 which terminates at a jet 9. The conduit member 8 serves to transfer the fuel from the outlet I to a fuel-air mixture supply tube I0 having a plurality of air intake apertures II. A burner I3 has a plurality of burner jets Hi from which the combustible fuel-air mixture is expelled for ignition, the jets I4 being below the level of the liquid in chamber 3*. The liquid fuel conduit member 8 has a horizontally extending portion 8 with the lower side of its bore slightly below the liquid level LL and in heat exchange relation with the flame (not shown) from the burner jets I4, which flame furnishes the heat to trans- .form the fuel from a liquid to a gas, to issue from the jet 9. A sump or excess fuel receiver I5 is positioned beneath the burner I3 to collect any excess liquid fuel from the burner I3 that might overflow from jets I4, either due to an extinguished flame or other causes such as leakage. The sump I5 has an outlet spout or passageway I6 to transfer the excess fuel to a liquid receiver or pail II supported from one end of a lever member I8 by means of a rod or chain I9.

A finger or thrust member 20 projects from the lever member I8 and cooperates with an end portion 2| of a second lever member 2| having a hook portion 22 holding a valve closing means 23, to be more fully described hereinafter, in an inactive position. The lever member I8 is sup ported for rotational movement by a pin or fulcrum member 24, supported at its opposite ends in the side walls of a cap member 25. The member I8 is held in normal or horizontal position by a compression spring 26 positioned between the lever member I8 and the top wall of member 25. The spring 26 is held against lateral movement by a projection or raised portion 21 on the member I8 and a recess 28 in the top wall of member 25. The weight of member I8 and its carried parts holds spring 26 under compression against the cap member 25 so that the lever member I8 will be prevented from downward or clockwise rotation until liquid is received in the pail II. The cap member 25 is held to the plate member 2 by a plurality of screws 29, of which one only is shown. The inlet or valve closing means 23 comprises a bifurcated, channel shaped lever member 3! hav- 7 ing two laterally projecting leg portions, one leg portion having at its end a conical shaped abutment 3|. A pair of spring abutment members 32 receive the opposite endsof an actuating spring 33 which is held under compression between the abutment 3I*- and a conical end of a pin member 35 supported by the end wall of chamber 3. The other leg portion 3I of member 3| projects through a vertical slot or opening 35 in the side wall of chambered member 3 and forms a' means for manual reset. The leg portion 3| carries, within the chamber. 3 an L-shaped portion 36 projecting downward and forward to provide a catch for cooperation with the hook portion 22 on member 2I to hold the closing means 23 against rotation by the force of the closing spring 33. The lever member 3I is slotted at the end opposite the leg portions, to fit on a pin 31 for rotational movement by downward force component of the spring 33 which also has a force component tending to keep the base of the slot against the pin 31. The lever member 3| has a downwardly embossed portion 38 for cooperation on downward movement with the upper end face of an inlet valve needle 39 to force the needle against an inlet seat 40 which defines an inlet orifice or port 4|. The member 3| is released for operative downward movement upon disengagement of the hook 22 from the catch 36. The port 4| forms a passageway between the strainer member 5 and the chamber 3' and flow therethrough is controlled by the position of the valve needle 39.

The level of liquid in the chamber 3 is main tained constant by an inlet controlling means '42 comprising a float 42 operatively connected to the needle 39 by means of a lever member 43 pivotally mounted on a supporting pin 44. The lever member 43 has an aperture therethrough to form a passageway which receives the stem portion of the valve needle 39. The needle stem has a pin 46 therethrough, one side of which is resiliently held against lever member 43 by a leaf spring 41 Y bearing against the other side of said pin, the spring 41 having one end portion rigidly secured between the lever 43 and a counterbalancing weight 45 at the end portion of the lever 43 opposite the float 42.

Within the chamber 3 is a second chamber 48 having an open upper end 49 substantially above the normal liquid level L-L. A slot 58 in the side wall of chamber 48 extends from the open upper end 49 down to a position which is slightly above the line L-L and forms an overflow from chamber 3' to chamber 48. The sec- 0nd chamber 48 is normally substantially empty of liquid and contains a second float member 5| pivotally fastened, as at 52, to the end of lever member 2| opposite the portion 2| which cooperates with the flnger 20. The portion 2 l also projects through slot 35 and overlies the lever end portion 3 l Upon flow of fuel from chamber 3 to chamber 48, the float 5| rises and. rotates the lever member 2| which is pivotally supported for rotational movement on a pin member 53, the rotational movement disengaging the hook 22 from the catch 36 so that lever member 3| engages the valve needle '39.

In Fig. 3 the lever member I8 and spring 26 are replaced by an upwardly inclined, inherently resilient member 54, such as a leaf spring, carrying a finger 55 which extends above and across the cover member 2 and for cooperation with the projecting lever and 2|; The member 54 has one end portion rigidly mounted on the cover member 2 by means of one of the screws 2. The other end of the member 54 carries the liquid receiver I! by means of the rod or chain l9, shown broken for convenience.

The operation of the system and the control device when embodied therein is as follows:

Liquid fuel is fed from a suitable source of supply by means of the inlet connection 4 through the strainer member 5 and the float regulated orifice or port 4| to the chamber 3, where a constant level of liquid fuel is maintained by the inlet controlling means 42. The fuel from the chamber 3 flows through the outlet 1 and the conduit 8, part of which, 8, is in heat exchange relation with the flame from the burner l3. The fuel vapor formed in portion 8 issues from jet 9 into the fuel-air mixture supply tube l0, drawing in air to be admixed therewith through the apertures I ligand forming a combustible mixture which issues from the jets M in burner l3 to be burned.

There are instances, however, when the system cause the finger 20 to press the lever portion 2| downward and rotate the lever member 2| to disengage the hook portion 22 from the catch 36 on leg 3| of the valve closing means 23. The

spring 33 will then rotate the lever 3| to strike the valve stem to urge the valve needle 39 sharply against its seat 40 and stop the flow of fuel to chamber 3*. If for some reason the fuel level rises abovethe line in chamber 3', the fluid will overflow through the slot 58 into the chamber 48 and will lift the float 5| until, when a predetermined level has been reached in chamber 48 and the lever member 2| is rotated a predetermined amount, the hook 22 will disengage from the catch 38 on leg 3| of the valve closing means, thereby allowing the valve closing means to'operate and to close the valve needle 39 against its seat and render the inlet controlling means 42 inefiective to open the valve.

The operation above described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 will be the same with the device of Fig. '3. The inherent resistance of the leaf spring 54 acts in lieu of the force of spring 26 and cooperates with the resistance of lever member 2| to determine the weight of liquid which will actuate the safety control means 23.

It may thus be seen that my device protects against an excess of fuel in either the chambered means or at the burner, and in either event will close-off the flow from the supply chamber 3 to the burner.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A liquid level control device comprising a container for liquid having an inlet and an outlet, means responsive to change of liquid level in said container and normally controlling admission of liquid through said inlet, safety float means operable to actuate said means to close said inlet upon occurrence of predetermined liquid level in said container, and a movably mounted safety means operable on movement in response to liquid discharged from said outlet to actuate said float means.

2. An apparatus of, the character described,

comprising a; chamber with an outlet and having an inlet means including a needle valve, '8. float member within said chamber operable to control said needle valve to maintain a constant level of fluid therein, a valve closing mechanism operable to close said needle valve to further flow of fluid, a safety chamber within and communicating with said first-named chamber and receiving fluid therefrom upon a predetermined rise in level of fluid in said first-named chamber, a float member within said safety chamber operable to render efiective said closing mechanism upon a predetermined rise of liquid level in said safety chamber, a fluid receiver, means operable upon a predetermined weight of fluid in said receiver to 3. In a liquid level control device, a container having an inlet and an outlet, a valve controlling said inlet, means acting on said valve and operable to maintain a substantially constant liquid level in said container, said container having a side wall opening above the constant liquid level, safety means under stress and operable to engage and close said valve, catch means operable to hold said safety means against movement and having a portion projecting through said opening, means responsive to predetermined increase of liquid level above said constant level to release said catch means, a cover member on said container, a supporting arm carried by said cover member and resiliently held against movement, an operating member projecting from said arm and operatively connected to and for releasing said catch means, and liquid actuated means for moving said arm.

4. In aliquid level control device, a container having an inlet and an outlet, a valve controlling said inlet, means acting on said valve and operable to maintain a substantially constant liquid level in said container, said container having a side wall opening above said constant liquid level, safety means under stress and operable to engage and close said valve, catch means operable to hold said safety means against movement and having a portion projecting through said opening, means responsive to predetermined increase of liquid level above said constant level to release said catch means, a cover member on said container, a supporting member secured on said cover member, a fulcrum member carried by said supporting member, a supporting arm carried by said fulcrum member and resiliently held against rotational movement, an operating member projecting from said arm and operatively connected to and for releasing said catch means, and liquid actuated means for moving said arm.

5. In a liquid level control device, a container having an inlet and an outlet, a valve controlling said inlet, means acting on said valve and operable to maintain a substantially constant liquid level in said container, said container having a side wall opening above said constant liquid level, safety means under stress and operable to engage and close said valve, catch means operable to hold said safety means against movement and having a portion projecting through said opening, means responsive to predetermined increase of liquid level above said constant level to release said catch means, a cover member on said container, a cap member secured on said cover member, a fulcrum member positioned within and carried by said cap member, a lever member having a portion which extends within said cap member and carried by said fulcrum member, a resilient member positioned within said cap member and opposing rotational movement of said lever member, an operating member projecting from said lever member and operatively connected to and for releasing said catch means, and liquid actuated means for rotating said lever member in opposition to said resilient means.

6. A constant level liquid supply means comprising a chamber having inlet and outlet means, an inherently resilient member having a portion rigid with and supported on said chamber, an inlet closing means under stress, means holding said closing means against movement and operatively connected to said member,- and means acting upon a predetermined excess flow of liquid from said outlet means to move said member against its resiliency to release said closing means.

'7. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a chamber having an inlet means and an outlet means, said inlet means including a needle valve, a float member within said chamber operable to control said needle valve to maintain a constant level of fluid therein, a valve closing mechanism held against movement and operable to close said needle valve to further flow of fluid, a safety chamber within and communicating with said first-named chamber and receiving fluid therefrom upon a predetermined rise in level of fluid in said first-named chamber, a float member within said safety chamber operable to release said valve closing mechanism upon ,a predetermined rise of liquid level in said safety ing a side wall opening above said constant liquid level, safety means under stress and operable to engage and close said valve, catch means operable to hold said safety means against movement and having a portion projecting through said opening, means responsive to predetermined increase of liquid level above said constant level i to release said catch means, a cover member on said container, an elongated resilient leaf spring fixed at one end to and extending across said cover member and overlying said opening, a downward extending thrust member projecting from said spring and operatively connected to andafor releasing said catch means, and liquid actuated means for moving said spring.

9. In a liquid level control device, a container having an inlet, a valve member controlling said inlet, means acting .on said valve member and operable to maintain a substantially constant liquid level in said container, safety means operable to engage and close said valve member, means operable to urge said safety means toward valve closing position, catch means operable to 'hold said safety means against movement by said urging means, movable means positioned within said container and responsive to predetermined increase of liquid level above said constant level to release said catch means, a member operatively engageable with said catch means and carried by said container, said last-named member being operable upon movement to move said catch means thereby to release said safety means for movement by said urging means, and liquid actuated means separate from said movable means for moving said last-named member.

10. An apparatus of the character described comprising a chamber having an inlet means including a valve member, a float member within said chamber operable to control said valve member to maintain a constant level of fluid therein, a valve closing mechanism operable to close said inlet means to further flow of fluid, a safety chamber within and communicating with said firstnamed chamber and receiving fluid therefrom upon a predetermined rise in level of fluid in said first-named chamber, a float member within said safety chamber operable to render effective said closing mechanism upon a predetermined rise of liquid level in said safety chamber, a fluid receiver, means for flow of fluid from said firstnamed chamber to said receiver, and means operable upon a predetermined weight of fluid in said receiver to actuate said closing mechanism.

11. In a liquid level control device, a container having an inlet and an outlet, a valve controlling said inlet, means acting on said valve and operv able to maintain a substantially constant liquid level in said container, said container having a side wall opening above said constant liquid level, safety means under stress and operable to engage and close said valve, catch means operable to hold said safety means against movement and having a portion projecting through said opening, means responsive to predetermined increase of liquid level above said constant level to release said catch means, a cover member on said container, a supporting member secured on said cover member, a supporting arm carried by said supporting member and resiliently held against rotational movement and operable on movement for releasing said catch means, and liquid actuated means for moving said arm.

12. An apparatus of the character described comprising a chamber having an inlet means, said inlet means including a valve member, a float member within said chamber operable to control said valve member to maintain a constant level of fluid therein, a valve closing mechanism held against movement and operable to close said valve member to further flow of fluid, a safety chamber within and, communicating with said first-named chamber and receiving fluid therefrom upon a predetermined rise in level of fluid in said first-named chamber, a float member means under stress and operable to engage and close said valve means, catch means operable to hold said stressed means against movement and having a portion projecting through said opening so that said stressed means can be released externally of said container, a cover member on said container, an elongated resilient leaf spring fixed at one end to and extending across said cover member and operatively connected to and for releasing said catch means, and liquid actuated means for moving said spring.

PHILIP S. RUSSEL. 

